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Description  |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to electronic guides and particularly to
television guides, such as television program schedule guides. This
invention also relates to a television guide with video clips.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Program guides that can be used to select programs for viewing or recording
are commonly available in newspapers. An on-screen television guide is
desirable so that a viewer can access the guide directly without
consulting another media. It is desirable that apparatus and methods be
provided to ensure that guide data for an on-screen television guide is
always available.
Previews of upcoming movies or television programs and infomercials are
commonly shown to generate interest in them. One technique is to show
clips of the video before or after the full presentation of another
program. This is done both for television programs or movies to be shown
on television. Increasingly common is the inclusion of video clips of
other movies on a rented video cassette tape. The renter of the video
cassette tape rents the tape to watch a particular movie, but also can
watch the previews, which are put onto the otherwise unused tape in the
video cassette. A problem with this conventional technique is that the
viewer must watch the entire tape to ascertain which previews are present.
A more convenient means of providing video clips is needed. Also it is
desirable to provide a method of linking the video clips to a television
guide for programs to be broadcast.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a capability for
extracting a television guide from a television signal. Another object of
the invention is to allow the access of a television guide from a
television signal even if the channel and television signal source are
unknown.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a capability for
searching various channels within a television signal source to find a
channel containing television guide data. Another objection of the present
invention is to provide an apparatus that can be programmed to search for
a television guide at only certain times. Another object of the present
invention is to provide an apparatus that searches for television guide
data in alternate television signal sources.
Another object of the invention is to search channels and/or television
signal sources for a television guide, only if the television is OFF, in
order to not interrupt television viewing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a directory to
programs which are recorded by a VCR when the programs are transmitted via
cable, satellite, or over the air.
According to the present invention, apparatus and methods are provided for
a television guide. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a device for
comparing a current time with at least one stored time period to determine
if the current time is within the stored time period, a device for
switching a signal output from a first television signal source to a
second television signal source, if television guide data is not contained
in the signal output from the first television signal source when the
current time is within the stored time period, a device for extracting the
television guide data from the signal output when the current time is
within the stored time period, and a memory for storing the extracted
television guide data.
In another embodiment the apparatus includes a device for controlling a
tuner to tune to a plurality of channels in the first television signal
source, when the current time is within the stored time period, a device
for controlling a tuner to tune to a plurality of channels in the second
television signal source, when the current timer is within the stored time
period, and a device for locking the tuner on a channel containing
television guide data in order to permit extraction of the television
guide data from the channel, wherein the device for switching switches
from the first television signal source to the second television signal
source, if television guide data is not contained in the signal output
from the plurality of channels in the first television signal source.
In another embodiment an apparatus for providing a television guide
includes a device for detecting whether a television is off, a device for
switching a signal output from a first television signal source to a
second television signal source, if television guide data is not contained
in the signal output from the first television signal source when the
device for detecting detects that the television is off, a device for
extracting the television guide data from the signal output when the
device for detecting detects that the television is off, and memory for
storing the extracted television guide data.
In yet another embodiment an apparatus for providing a directory for
transmitted and recorded programs, includes a device for detecting whether
a television is off, a device for switching a signal output from a first
television signal source to a second television signal source, if a
directory is not contained in the signal output from the first television
signal source when the device for detecting detects that the television is
off, a device for extracting the directory from the signal output when the
device for detecting detects that the television is off, a recorder for
recording the transmitted programs, and a memory for storing the extracted
directory.
Other objects and many of the attendant features of this invention will be
more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by
reference to the following detailed descriptions and considered in
connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols
designate like parts throughout the figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a schematic showing apparatus for a television guide according
to the present invention;
FIG. 1B is a block diagram of the transmission system according to the
present invention;
FIG. 2A is a flow graph of steps for initializing the apparatus for a
television guide according to the present invention;
FIG. 2B is a design of the random access memory and the read only memory of
the apparatus for a television guide according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a tape layout having a television guide with
video clips according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a flow graph of steps for using the apparatus for a television
guide with video clips according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a flow graph of steps for using the apparatus for a transmitted
television guide with video clips according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a tape layout having a television guide with
video clips according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a flow graph of steps for initializing a television guide with
VISS marks during a transmission and recording of a television guide with
video clips according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a flow graph of steps for initializing a tape after a
transmission and recording of a television guide with video clips
according to the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a drawing of a tape layout having a guide in the audio track
according to the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a flow graph of steps for using the apparatus for a television
guide transmitted in the audio according to the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a another flow graph of steps for using the apparatus for a
television guide transmitted in the audio according to the present
invention;
FIG. 12 is a display of a television guide on a television monitor
according to the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an interlaced raster scanning
pattern of a conventional television;
FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of a television video and data
transmission system;
FIG. 15 is a timing diagram showing the vertical blanking interval (VBI)
lines of field 1 and field 2 of a interlaced raster scanning pattern of a
conventional television and data in the VBI according to the present
invention;
FIG. 16 is a timing diagram of the standard data format (1X) for
transmitting data in the VBI;
FIG. 17 is a timing diagram of the accelerated data format (2X) for
transmitting data in the VBI;
FIG. 18 is a drawing of a tape layout having a guide in the vertical
blanking lines according to the present invention;
FIG. 19 is a flow graph of steps for using the apparatus for a television
guide transmitted in the vertical blanking intervals lines according to
the present invention;
FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a system including a recorder having
apparatus for extracting a television guide from a television signal and
for controlling a switch for selecting among television signal sources
according to the present invention;
FIG. 21A is a timing diagram showing video clips and audio transmitted
along with guide data in the vertical blanking interval lines according to
the present invention;
FIG. 21B is a timing diagram showing video clips transmitted along with
guide data in the audio according to the present invention;
FIGS. 22A and 22B are flow diagrams of a method for searching television
signal sources and channels in order to extract a television guide from a
television signal according to the present invention;
FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a system including a television having
apparatus for extracting a television guide from a television signal and
for controlling a switch for selecting among television signal sources
according to the present invention;
FIGS. 24A and 24B are flow diagrams of a method for controlling a
television to search for television guide data between television signal
sources and channels in the television signal sources and for controlling
the extraction of the television guide data from the television signal
source according to the present invention; and
FIG. 25 is an illustration of a television monitor displaying a message to
a user to ignore the audio tones when guide data is contained in the
audio, according to the present invention.
FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a vertical blanking interval line having a TPA
packet, containing a tape identification, a program number, and an
absolute address, and a directory, which contains a listing of programs
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 27 is a block diagram of a VCR including a vertical blanking interval
line decoder, a character generator, a memory for containing a directory
of programs stored on a tape, a microcomputer for allowing programs to be
accessed on a tape, an infrared receiver, and an infrared transmitter
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a portion of a tape with TPA packets and a
directory written in the vertical blanking interval lines according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 29A is a diagram showing the format of a TPA packet comprising a tape
identification field, a program number field and a absolute address field
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 29B is a diagram showing the format of a directory written in vertical
blanking interval lines comprising a program title, a program number, a
start address, an end address, the record speed, and additional fields for
other information such as a program description according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing a television 0N detector according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the drawings, a guide controller unit 10 is shown in FIG. 1A.
The guide controller unit 10 is coupled to the VCR audio output 20 and the
serial port 50 of the video cassette recorder 12. When a video cassette
tape 18 is played in the video cassette recorder 12, the program recorded
on the tape can be viewed on television 14, which receives the television
signal on line 36. The video cassette tape 18 may be a prerecorded tape,
or can be created by recording on the video cassette recorder 12 the
signals from signal source 11 or from line 58 from the guide controller
unit 10, as will be explained. The signal source 11 can include sources
such as a television antenna, a television cable, or a satellite receiver,
and in some embodiments line 58 is not present so signal source 11 is the
only signal source. If the line 58 is present, then signal source 11 is
not used and the line 58 is coupled via RF switch 54 to either UHF antenna
55 or to signal source 56. The signal source 56 can include sources such
as a television antenna, a television cable, or a satellite receiver.
The VCR 12 includes a tuner 49, an on-screen display controller 51, a VCR
controller 52, a clock 53 having an output that is a function of time, an
audio output 20, a serial port 50, and a vertical blanking interval (VBI)
line decoder 74. The VCR controller 52 can be implemented with a
microprocessor or logic to control the VCR and communicates to the tuner
49, the on-screen display controller 51, the clock 53 having an output
that is a function of time, the serial port 50, the vertical blanking
interval (VBI) line decoder 74 and an infrared detector 32. The audio
output is coupled to tuner 49.
The guide controller unit 10 has an audio decoder 22 which is connected to
VCR audio output 20, a microprocessor 24 with a memory 28, a clock 23
having an output that is a function of time, an infrared emitter 30, and
an infrared detector 26. As shown in FIG. 1A, the microprocessor 24
communicates with audio decoder 22, clock 23, infrared emitter 30,
infrared detector 26 and memory 28. The microprocessor 24 also
communicates to serial port 50 in VCR 12, and to RF switch 54, which is
coupled to the UHF antenna 55 and the signal source 56.
The remote controller 16 communicates with guide controller unit 10 and has
number keys 42, an initialization key 44, a record key 46, a view key 48,
and a cursor controller 59, the operation of which are explained further
below. The remote controller 16 has an infrared emitter 40 that can
communicate to infrared detector 26 on guide controller unit 10.
The infrared emitter 30 on guide controller unit 10 communicates with both
the infrared detector 32 on video cassette recorder 12 and the infrared
detector 34 on television 14. The remote controller 16 does not Operate
the video cassette recorder 12 or television 14 directly. The remote
controller 16 communicates with guide controller unit 10 and the guide
controller unit 10 controls the video cassette recorder 12 and television
14 through the emissions of infrared emitter 30 to the infrared detector
32 and the infrared detector 34.
The television 14 is assumed to have a mute control feature for turning off
the sound of the television upon command. The video cassette recorder 12
is assumed to have the following features: play, rewind, record, stop,
index, index mark, and still frame.
FIG. 1B is a block diagram of the transmission system for transmitting a
guide according to the present invention. The transmission system includes
a cable output 522, means 524 for over the air or satellite transmission
and a means for selecting a mode of transmission 526. In one mode normal
programming 520 is transmitted. In another mode the elements 528, 530,
532, 534, and 536, as described in FIG. 1B, are combined in combiner 540
to transmit guide and guide data with video clips, which can be recorded
on a tape in the format shown in FIG. 3. In another mode the elements 528,
530, 532, 534, 536 and 538, as described in FIG. 1B, are combined in
combiner 540 to transmit guide and guide data with video clips, which can
be recorded on a tape in the format shown in FIG. 6. In yet another mode
the elements 528, 532, 534, 542, 544, 546 and 548, as described in FIG.
1B, are combined in combiner 550 to transmit guide and guide data with
video clips, which can be recorded on a tape in the format shown in FIG.
9. In still another mode the elements 528, 552, 554, and 556, as described
in FIG. 1B, are combined in combiner 558 to transmit guide and guide data
with video clips, which can be recorded on a tape in the format shown in
FIG. 18. The order of transmitting the elements in the modes is explained
below in the discussions relative to FIGS. 3, 6, 9 and 18.
FIG. 2A is a flow graph of steps for initializing the apparatus of FIG. 1
for a television guide with video clips according to the present
invention. A special initialization tape is loaded into the video cassette
recorder 12 in step 90 and the initialization tape is played. The
initialization tape has encoded in its audio track the infrared code
libraries for substantially all types of VCRs and televisions. When the
tape is played, video cues are displayed on the television 14 to enable
the user to locate the codes for the particular type of television and VCR
in use. Then the infrared codes for the user's VCR and television are
downloaded into memory 28 via VCR audio output 20. The audio decoder 22
decodes the audio output signal and the microprocessor 24 stores the
infrared codes into memory 28. Alternately the infrared codes for the
televisions and VCRs can be stored in ROM in memory 28 and the user is
provided a method of selecting the proper subset of infrared codes to
match the particular television and VCR in use. The codes can also be used
to send commands to the VCR 12 via the serial port 50. Once the infrared
codes have been loaded into the memory 28 of the guide controller unit 10
the user can play a video cassette tape 18 with a television guide with
video clips.
Referring to FIG. 2A, the initialization sequence for the guide controller
unit 10 is to first load the initialization tape into the VCR and play the
initialization tape in step 90. Then the user selects a set of infrared
codes matching his particular VCR and television in step 92. Then in step
94 the infrared codes are downloaded from video cassette recorder 12 via
VCR audio output 20 and audio decoder 22 into memory 28. The downloaded
infrared codes include codes for television mute, VCR play, VCR rewind,
VCR record, VCR stop, VCR index, VCR index mark, and VCR still frame, as
shown in step 96.
FIG. 2B is a diagram of the contents of memory 28 including a read only
memory portion for storing a program and random access memory portion for
storing the infrared codes for the television and the VCR.
FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a tape layout having a television guide with
video clips according to the present invention. The tape 60 has a control
track 62, a video track 64 and an audio track 66. As shown in FIG. 3, the
first length of the tape has a VISS mark 68 in the control track 62.
Second VISS mark 69 is also in control track 62. Between VISS mark 68 and
VISS mark 69 a guide 70 is in the video track 64. As shown in FIG. 3, the
guide 70 consists of an index to video clips on the tape. For example, the
first video clip is Aladdin, which will be shown on channel 2 on September
6th at 2:00 p.m. and has a length of two hours. The second video clip is
War and Peace, which has a compressed code of 21596.
The compressed code is encoded CDTL information and compressed codes and
their use are more fully explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,079 issued Aug.
2, 1994, which is incorporated herein by this reference, as though set
forth in full. The compressed codes each have at least one digit
representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of the
channel, day, time-of-day, and length and can be decoded into channel,
day, time-of-day, and length.
In audio track 66, guide data associated with the guide is encoded as audio
tones. The guide data 72 includes for each video clip on the guide 70, the
number of VISS marks from the guide to the respective video clip. The
channel, day, time-of-day and length (CDTL) or another program identifier
can be encoded as tones within the guide data for each video clip. Also, a
compressed code compressed in length from the CDTL and containing the
information of the CDTL associated with the video clip can be encoded as
tones within the guide data 72. At the end of the guide data is a still
frame command, which is encoded as tones in the audio track 66.
In a second length of the tape following the guide and the guide data, the
first video clip is located with the video for the clip written in the
video track 64 and the audio that accompanies the video written within the
audio track 66. A VISS mark 69 is written at the beginning of the video
clip in control track 62 and a VISS mark 68 is also written at the end of
the video clip in control track 62.
Following the video clip, the guide is repeated in video track 64, as shown
by guide 78 in FIG. 3 and guide data 80 is written into audio track 66.
The guide data 80 is not the same as the guide data 72, because the number
of VISS marks to a video clip from guide data 80 is different from the
number of VISS marks to a video clip from guide data 72. As shown in FIG.
3 the second video clip follows guide 78 and the audio 84 accompanying the
second video clip is written in audio track 66. The pattern of repeating
the guide and guide data after each video clip is repeated across the
tape. As the tape is played on video cassette recorder 12 the guide is
displayed on television 14 and the guide data is sent via VCR audio output
20 and audio decoder 22 to microprocessor 24. At the end of the guide data
is a still frame command. When this is decoded by audio decoder 22 the
microprocessor 24 sends a still frame command via infrared emitter 30 and
infrared detector 32 to video cassette recorder 12. The guide is then
displayed as a frozen frame on television 14. To access a video clip the
user pushes one of the number keys 42 and then pushes view key 48. For
example, pushing key number 3 and the view key will access the third video
clip listed in the guide. The guide controller unit 10 sends index
commands to video cassette recorder 12 via infrared emitter 30 and
infrared detector 32 to advance or rewind the tape to the video clip
selected by the user. This is accomplished by guide controller unit 10 by
processing the decoded guide data to determine the number of VISS marks
forward or backward on the tape to the video clip selected by the user.
Then the guide controller unit 10 via infrared emitter 30 and infrared
detector 32 commands the video cassette recorder 12 to advance or rewind
by the number of VISS marks to the selected video clip.
The steps for using the apparatus for a television guide with video clips
according to the present invention is further described in FIG. 4. In step
100, a tape 18 with a television guide with video clips, such as shown in
FIG. 3, is inserted into video cassette recorder 12 and the video cassette
recorder 12 is commanded to play the tape. In step 102 the guide
controller unit 10 decodes the audio tones in the tape audio track, which
are sent to guide controller unit 10 via VCR audio output 20 to audio
decoder 22. Upon determining the audio tones are being received the guide
controller unit 10 sends a mute command to television 14. Sending the mute
command avoids the annoyance the audio tones would otherwise cause to a
listener. Then in step 104 the guide data is loaded into the RAM portion
of memory 28. As explained before, the guide data includes for each movie
clip on the tape the number of VISS marks to the video clip and optionally
encoded CDTL information in a compressed code, or channel, day,
time-of-day and length for a program that corresponds to the video clip.
After the audio data has been stored in memory 28, the mute command may be
sent again to television 14 via infrared emitter 30 and infrared detector
34 to toggle the mute switch on television 14 and turn the sound back on.
Then in step 108 the guide controller unit 10 searches for a still frame
command in the audio tones being sent via VCR audio output 20 to audio
decoder 22 in guide controller unit 10. If a still frame command is
detected in the audio track then the guide controller unit 10 sends a
still frame command to video cassette recorder 12 thereby freezing the
current frame being transmitted to the television from the VCR. In step
112 the guide is frozen on television 14. In step 114 the user selects a
video clip to view or record by pushing a number key 42 on remote
controller 16. For example, for the guide shown in FIG. 3, if the user
wants to view the video clip for War and Peace, then the user would push
the number key 2 and then the view button 48. After pushing the number for
the selected video clip, the user may also select to record the later
transmission of the program by pushing the record button 46 on remote
controller 16, as shown in step 116. If the record button is pushed, as
determined in step 118 then the compressed code or the CDTL information
for the selected video clip is sent to video cassette recorder 12 to
program the VCR. The compressed codes are compressed from the combination
of channel, day, time-of-day and length for a program and are now commonly
published in newspapers to assist in the recording of programs on VCRs.
To view the selected video clip the user pushes view button 48, as shown in
step 112 of FIG. 4. If the view button has been pushed as determined by
step 124, then in step 126 the guide controller unit 10 sends index
commands to video cassette recorder 12 to advance or rewind the tape by
the number of VISS marks to the selected video clip. Then in step 128 a
command is sent to video cassette recorder 12 to play the selected video
clip. At the end of the video clip (step 129) the guide controller unit 10
again detects audio tones in audio track 66 and sends a mute command to
the television as shown in step 102. Then steps 104, 106, 108, 110 and 112
are repeated and the user can select another video clip to view or to
record. The first time the guide is displayed to the user, the user will
most likely select to view a video clip by performing steps 114 and 122
and then the next time the guide is displayed to the user, the user having
seen the video clip could decide to record the program when it is
transmitted at a later time by performing steps 114 and 116. However, it
is possible for the user to select to record a program before viewing the
video clip for the program.
In the description so far it has been assumed that the user is provided
with a video cassette tape with a television guide with video clips.
Another embodiment of the invention is to transmit the television guide
with video clips rather than to provide it directly on a video cassette
tape. A number of issues arise when the television guide with video clips
is transmitted rather than delivered on a video cassette tape. The first
is that with a video cassette tape the user can be charged either a sales
fee or a rental fee for the video cassette tape. In the case of a
transmission other provisions have to be made in order to charge the user
for the television guide with video clips. The television guide with video
clips can be transmitted on a channel at a time when the cost of
transmission is low. During the transmission the guide controller unit 10
must be turned off during the receipt of the transmission, so that the
operations described in FIG. 4 are not executed. For example, if during
the transmission the guide controller unit 10 is turned on, then still
frame commands detected in the transmission would result in a still frame
command to the VCR. This would stop the recording of the transmission. One
way to ensure that the guide controller unit is off, is to automatically
turn off the guide controller unit at a certain time at night, when the
transmission is scheduled, as shown in step 144. One method to implement
turning off the guide control unit is to program the microprocessor to
ignore all received information when the time on clock 23 is between
certain times, such as between 3 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. In step 146 of FIG. 5
the transmission is recorded on tape by the video cassette recorder 12.
After the transmission is complete the tape is rewound in step 148 and the
guide controller unit 10 is turned on. Then to use the tape in the manner
described in FIG. 4 the tape must be initialized. In step 150 the user
pushes INIT key 44 on remote controller 16. One method of obtaining
revenue for the use of the television guide with video clip transmission
is to have the user call a 900 number to obtain a key number as shown in
step 152. The user then enters the key number on remote controller 16 as
shown in step 154. In step 156 the entered key number is sent to guide
controller unit 10 from remote controller 16. Then in step 158 guide
controller unit 10 sends a play command to video cassette recorder 12. At
the beginning of the tape a key number | | |
